The Professional Work of Country Music Promoter & DJ, Smokey Smith (Iowa Rose)

Although Smokey Smith had his roots firmly planted in country music, he brought the first Elvis Presley concert to Iowa in 1956. Smith was not only a promoter, but a radio personality, performer and recording artist. Smokey booked hundreds of shows at KRNT Theatre in Des Moines as well as at the Iowa State Fair and venues throughout the Midwest as well as booking frequent tours to Nashville and other cities.

Born Feb. 12, 1922 in Kansas City, MO, Smokey Smith landed his first radio job as a singer and guitar picker for Ted West and his Range Riders in 1938 at WREN in Lawrence, Kansas. He went on to California in 1940 where he held live and deejay shows on KYOR in San Diego.

Smokey and his band, The Gold Coast Boys, cut transcribed shows in San Diego for XERB in Rosa Rita Beach, Mexico and other Mexican stations including XEG in Monterrey. Smokey recorded for a time for Crystal Records. His band recorded a version of Ted Daffen's I'm A Fool To Care at Crystal Records. A Dallas radio station played three versions of the song by Gene Autrey, Smokey and Red Egner and asked listeners to vote for their favorite. The Gold Coast Boys' version won the contest and the record sold over 50,000 copies.

In 1949, Smokey went to work at KRNT in Des Moines, Iowa where he continued doing live and deejay shows plus making personal appearances with his band in Iowa and throughout the Midwest. Smokey began booking country and Grand Ole Opry shows at the KRNT Theater in Des Moines. Seating 4,172, the once-a-month bookings ran from September through May. Smokey then branched out by booking additional dates in civic auditoriums in such cities as Rochester, Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Sioux City and Burlington, Iowa, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Denver, Colorado. Smokey booked Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Charley Pride on some of their first concert dates. For more than a year, he booked the country shows at the Erie Crown Theater in the McCormick Place in Chicago for WJJD. Smokey had Buck Owens booked there when the McCormick Place burned to the ground two weeks prior to the date. Smokey was able to switch venues to the Civic Opera House where it sold out.

On September 25, 1952, Smokey worked the KRNT, Des Moines radio theatre with Hank Snow and Faron Young to a huge crowd. Smith booked Wanda Jackson as a single when she first started out. Her father, Tom, traveled with her when she was on tour during her early twenties. Wanda later formed a band with Roy Clark as her guitar player. Smokey also booked Roy Clark, Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, Waylon Jennings, The Everly Brothers and Carl Perkins, putting him into the Ponderosa Club south of Des Moines in the early 60s. Smokey's band backed up Les Paul and Mary Ford. Les Paul loved the song "I'm A Fool To Care" after hearing Smokey play it. He later went on to record it.

Smokey worked as a country deejay at KWDM in Des Moines, KNIA in Knoxville, Iowa and KWKY, Des Moines. Smith entertained the people of Iowa both on the radio and through the sponsorship of live country music concerts, many of which were held at the KRNT Theatre. Smokey was heard on KRNT, KWDM, KWKY, KNIA (Knoxville, Iowa) and had a live Country Music TV show on KRNT-TV in 195.

Smith served as a board member for the Country Music Disc Jockey Association, which later became the Country Music Association. Smokey was nominated for the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 1981, but was beaten out by Charlie Walker. Nominated again in 1982, he and Bill Mack tied for the honor and both were inducted.

"I'll never forget the first time I met Smokey Smith. He was a very talented man, who had a personality that won you over immediately. I learned to love ole Smokey like a brother. In a sense, he was our rival on another station, KRNT, where he was a Disc Jockey. But Smokey was more than just a D.J., he was one of the greatest promoters I have ever known. He always had a cigar in his hand or in his mouth, just like you'd imagine a big promoter would have. I was impressed. Every so often, he would bring a big package show in, usually from Nashville, and attract thousands of people to the Shrine Auditorium in Des Moines. He would always let me in back stage to meet the performers. Thanks to him, I met just about everybody that was well known and some that was just getting started. You have to understand, I was just 22 or 23 years old aspiring to be a Super Star myself someday, so this was really a treat for me. I kind of got the idea that Smokey was looking out for me. In addition to promoting these big shows and playing their records every day, Smokey Smith played guitar and sang pretty darn good. In fact, many times when I wasn't on the road, I joined him at a place called the Silver Saddle in Des Moines, where we entertained the folks. Smokey was a real friend." ~ Dusty Owens, country music singer, band leader & songwriter.

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[jtls8]

I was reading your write up and are you Dusty Owens? This was a super upload!!!

[flashbell]

@jtls8 ,lol. no the last paragraph is a direct quote of him.

[theskipperone]

My dad played drums with the Smokey Smith band for many years. This brings back many memories.

[BY1NO1]

I met Smokey Smith at the 2010 LeMars Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars Iowa. He had a product table next to my friend, Terry Smith.

[pyrofella]

Really nice Western Swing... thanks

[KyleMartinABQ]

Nothing beats the old country music. Music that was sung from the heart and soul about life events.

Check out my channel.  Just me and my guitar singing some country music. Tell me what you think.

[hagblay]

flash--you havea good thing going here--enjoyed it much--ty john

[truckingsonofagun]

great upload((smiles))

[ThePerpetualwoman]

Thought I remembered all the oldies, but this one stumped me. Thanks for the share.

Ginnie